Self Organizing System at Work

Thu Feb 18 09:42:57 PST 2010

After a long "professional" career of over 45 years in what seems to 
have been "change" as student body organizer, coop organizer, community 
organizer, union organizer, OD consultant, etc. etc. and more recently 
15 years as facilitator of OS-events I am pretty sure that I did not 
change anything and certainly nothing one might call sustainable change, 
which, come to think of it, is a real oxymoron anyway.
What I managed to get a hold on is to drop all ideas around me creating, 
causing, initiating etc. etc. change with the result of being much 
happier and much more effective in what I think is  a contribution I am 
making. And it is not about enabling systems, either. Its simply 
focusing on expanding the prerequisites for self organisation in systems 
I am involved in.
When I say "its simply", I realize that "expanding the prerequisites for 
self organisation" does work well in "structured" processes where I 
touch base with various steps (contact meeting, planning meeting...and 
after that its pretty much self-running).
One thing, for instance, that I never do is to write a proposal or a 
formal offer for my services. I insist, yep insist, to have a contact 
meeting with the system interested in working a business issue. No fee 
for that. That insistence alone keeps about half of the potential 
"clients" away. The contact meetings evolve into a contract about half 
of the time (the potential client has come to the conclusion that 
getting into the world of selforganisation is not his cup of tea).
So that boils down to 75% work saved.
As you all know I could go on forever on this...have a great day.
Greetings from Berlin...lets continue this discussion in length and 
depth and face to face at other occasions as for instance at the WOSonOS 
in Berlin this May
mmp

Harrison Owen wrote:
> Christine has uttered the magic words... "change things." Somehow it would
> seem that effort is required, given the way things are, and further, that
> effecting that change is our god given right and responsibility. And we try.
> Sometimes to no effect, sometimes to minimal effect, and sometimes to
> counterproductive effect as when those awful "unintended consequences" show
> up. But we tried, and at least we should be given credit for that. Or should
> we?
> 
> Of course we should, for hasn't all of our education and training prepared
> us for that moment? And more to the point how would we get paid if we didn't
> do all that?
> 
> Then again it may be the case that the change required is not ours to
> supply. Doing so exceeds our power, knowledge and capacity. Perhaps our
> difficulty lies in the notion that we (as individuals) are the agents of
> change. After all Change Agent seems to be a recognized title and
> profession. Just supposing the task and the role is rather different?
> Supposing it is not our job to be Change Agents, but rather to enable the
> systems of which we are a part to effectively evolve such that they fit with
> the emerging world? What sort of skills and attitudes would that require?
> What can we dispense with?
> 
> Harrison
> 
> Harrison Owen
> 7808 River Falls Dr.
> Potomac, MD 20854
> USA
> Phone 301-365-2093
> www.openspaceworld.com
> www.ho-image.com (Personal Website)
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> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Christine
> Whitney Sanchez
> Sent: Wednesday, February 17, 2010 10:07 AM
> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Subject: Re: Self Organising System at Work
> 
> Many thanks for posting this, Alan.  Not only does this book excerpt  
> from "Switch: Don't Solve Problems--Copy Success" highlight the power  
> of self-organizing systems, but also the power of maintaining an  
> appreciative, "bright spot" focus...
> 
> "...if you're trying to change things, there are going to be bright  
> spots in your field of view. And if you learn to identify and  
> understand them, you will solve one of the fundamental mysteries of  
> change: What, exactly, needs to be done differently?"
> 
> I'm cross-posting this on the Appreciative Inquiry list.  Thanks for  
> sharing this at the perfect time.
> 
> Warm wishes from a sparkling Phoenix morning,
> 
> Christine
> Christine Whitney Sanchez
> Collaborative Wisdom & Strategy
> 480.759.0262
> www.christinewhitneysanchez.com
> www.promiseusa.com
> Skype: christinewhitneysanchez
> http://www.facebook.com/ChristineWhitneySanchez
> 
> On Feb 16, 2010, at 4:57 PM, Alan Halford wrote:
> 
>> Hi,
>> I came across an interesting book excerpt which may interest the  
>> list,for me a good example of self organising system for higher  
>> performance!
>>
> http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/142/switch-how-to-change-things-when-cha
> nge-is-hard.html?partner=homepage_newsletter
>> Cheers
>> Alan
>>
>> Alan Halford & Associates
>> Business & Management Consultants
>> Mediation and Conflict Resolution
>> Open Space Technology Aficionado
>>
>> www.alanhalford.com.au
>> 0421 475 252
>> skype: alanhalford
>>
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-- 
Michael M Pannwitz, boscop eg
Draisweg 1, 12209 Berlin, Germany
++49-30-772 8000
mmpanne at boscop.org
www.boscop.org

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